Our Mission

To identify and support programs that help middle and high school students connect their education to future career opportunities by providing the resources and experiences needed to explore, investigate, and engage with career pathways in a 21st-century global economy.

Our Goal

To support career education and exploration programs that enable students to make informed decisions about their future.

Programs We Fund

The Schwab Foundation supports programs with clearly defined goals, measurable outcomes, and strong evaluation plans. We prioritize programs that help students build the skills, awareness, and experiences needed to be career-ready.

In some cases, the Foundation will consider funding for planning grants or carefully designed pilot programs that demonstrate potential for broader impact.

What We Look For

Strong proposals will:

  • Align with the Schwab Foundation’s funding priorities 
  • Serve a diverse student population 
  • Demonstrate meaningful impact relative to cost per student 
  • Include clear, measurable goals and outcomes 
  • Incorporate evaluation methods to assess effectiveness 

Funding Priorities

We prioritize programs that cultivate career readiness through experiential learning and real-world connection.

Competitive proposals often include opportunities such as:

  • Internships, job shadowing, or mentorship 
  • Career fairs or workplace exposure 
  • After-school programs, clubs, or camps 
  • Hands-on learning and skill development 

Programs should help students (grades 6–12) build essential career-readiness skills, including communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and professional responsibility.

Preference is given to programs that:

  • Connect students to the world of work 
  • Use engaging, relevant learning methods and technology 
  • Are embedded in or aligned with school curriculum (for schools/districts) 
  • Include engagement with parents or guardians 

Eligible Applicants

The Schwab Foundation primarily supports organizations serving middle and high school students in:

Allen County and the contiguous counties of Noble, DeKalb, Adams, Wells, Huntington, and Whitley.

Eligible applicants include:

  • Nonprofit organizations 
  • Schools and school districts 

Please note: Grants are awarded by invitation only.

Use of Funds

Grant funding may support:

  • Career exploration tools and curriculum (including software) 
  • Internships, job shadowing, and post-secondary visits 
  • Mentoring and guest speakers 
  • Field trips and hands-on learning experiences 
  • Program-related stipends, consultant fees, travel, and training 

What We Do Not Fund

The Schwab Foundation does not fund:

  • Scholarships 
  • General operating expenses 
  • Capital improvements 
  • Equipment not directly related to the program 
  • Salaries not directly tied to the funded program 

No more than 10% of any grant may be used for food.